Apparatus for producing useful heat from solar radiation

Abstract

Apparatus for producing useful heat from solar radiation and which in the operating position is oriented in an inclined plane. The apparatus includes a coilable conduit structure which is provided with an inlet and an outlet for a flowable heat carrier medium and is formed of two elongated flexible foils, with one being colored so as to absorb solar radiation, which are sealingly connected together along their edge regions and are sealingly connected together along lines in their center regions to form a plurality of parallel flow channels which extend along the longitudinal axis of the foils, and first and second transverse flow channels which connect the respective adjacent ends of said parallel flow channels together. The first transverse flow channel, which in the operating position of the apparatus is the upper transverse flow channel, is connected with an upper region of a reservoir for the flowable heat carrier medium while the second transverse flow channel, which in the operating position is the lower transverse flow channel, is connected with a lower region of the reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for producing useful heat from solar radiation and which in the operating position is oriented in an inclined plane comprising: a coilable conduit structure provided with an inlet and an outlet for a flowable heat carrier medium, said conduit structure being formed of two elongated flexible foils, of which at least one is colored so as to absorb solar radiation, which are sealingly connected together along their edge regions and are sealingly connected together along lines in their center regions to form a plurality of parallel flow channels which extend in the longitudinal direction of said foils and first and second transverse flow channels which connect the respective adjacent ends of said parallel flow channels together; a reservoir for the flowable heat carrier medium; first means for connecting said first transverse flow channel, which in the operating position of the apparatus is the upper transverse flow channel, with an upper region of said reservoir; second means for connecting said second transverse flow channel, which in the operating position is the lower transverse flow channel, with a lower region of said reservoir; and a hose for the removal of the heated heat carried medium, said hose extending into said reservoir with the end of said hose which is disposed inside said reservoir being freely movable and provided with a float. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising means, including a short pipe which opens into said second transverse flow channel, for introducing the flowable heat carrier medium into said conduit structure; wherein said short pipe passes through one of the transverse edges of said conduit structure; and wherein said hose is brought to said one transverse edge of said conduit structure. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said second means is connected to one end of said second transverse flow channel, and said short pipe opens into said second transverse flow channel in the vicinity of the end thereof opposite that connected to said second means. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a short pipe opening into said reservoir for feeding the heat carrier medium into said reservoir. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising means, provided on at least some of the edge regions of said conduit structure, for suspending said conduit structure so that said plurality of parallel flow channels extend at least approximately vertically in at least one plane. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said reservoir is disposed above said conduit structure when said apparatus is in said operating position. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said reservoir and said conduit structure form a unitary structure. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said reservoir is formed by sealing connections between said two foils and is disposed on the side of said first transverse flow channel opposite that connected to said plurality of flow channels; and said first and second means comprise first and second connecting flow channels which are formed by further sealing connections between said two foils and which are disposed on opposite sides of said conduit structure parallel to said plurality of parallel flow channels. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 further comprising means, including a short pipe which opens into said second transverse flow channel, for introducing the flowable heat carrier medium into said conduit structure. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said short pipe opens into said second transverse flow channel in the vicinity of the end thereof opposite that connected to said second connecting flow channel. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein: said reservoir and conduit structure form a unitary structure with said reservoir being disposed above said conduit structure when said apparatus is in said operating position; said reservoir is formed by sealing connections between said two foils and is disposed on the side of said first transverse flow channel opposite that connected to said plurality of flow channels; said first and second means comprise first and second connecting flow channels which are formed by further sealing connections between said two foils and which are disposed on opposite sides of said conduit structure parallel to said plurality of parallel flow channels; and said hose is brought to said one transverse edge via said second connecting flow channel. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said short pipe opens into said second transverse flow channel in the vicinity of the end thereof opposite that connected to said second connecting flow channel.